Pacific Patriot Network under the leadership of the Oath Keepers has set up a security mission to protect the White Hope Mine and related claims in Lewis & Clark County, MT. The immediate aim of this operation is to act as a buffer between the miners and any unlawful action by the United States Forest Service (USFS).

Mission Statement is as follows:

At the request of Intermountain Mining, owners of the White Hope Mine located in Lewis & Clark County Montana, Pacific Patriots Network, Oath Keepers and III%’s mission is to ensure the mining claim owners 4th & 5th Amendment Constitutional Right’s are not violated and to prevent further unlawful action by the United States Forest Service.

Mining claims established before 1955 fall under the Mining Law of 1872. These claims are Public Domain and are treated as private property. The USFS has no legal standing or precedence for their recent actions, but has taken it upon themselves to require unnecessary permits, enacted stalling techniques, made threats of arson, and strong-arm tactics to coax a generation of older miners to submit to unlawful authority, preventing them from working their rightful mining claim. The current claim being threatened has been in constant operation since 1924, therefore is not managed under the 1955 administrative regulation, which requires an operations plan. The claims are lawfully recorded with the miners controlling the surface rights and the resources on the land for use in their mining venture. Claims are not public property. In addition, privately owned gates have been locked into an open position to allow the public access to private claims. The use of fear tactics, harassment and unlawful action by Bill Avey, Helena National Forest Supervisor, will no longer be tolerated.

Intermountain Mining LLC, owned by George Kornec a Korean veteran and Phil Nappo a Vietnam veteran, have served a Notice of No Trespass on the White Hope Mine to the United States Forest Service (USFS), it’s employees, contractors and agents. Owners of the mine and all authorized parties will respond to any unlawful entry to the full extent of the law. Our intention is to run a peaceful security operation. Our position is to protect the rights of these miners thru an open dialogue with the USFS and reach a Legal & Constitutional conclusion.